11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."
In our verses for today Jesus tells His disciples that their dearly loved friend Lazarus lay “sleeping”. The term “friend” used here by our Lord carried with it a sweet and strong significance of one dearly beloved by the Lord – this is found true throughout Scripture. Using the term “our” before friend, beautifully teaches us that any friend of Jesus’ is to be a friend of all believers as well – all being part of one body of which Christ is the head. We would do well to remember Jesus’ Word which stated the greatest, loving, selfless action that could be done on the behalf of a friend. This, our Lord not only attested to, but also later demonstrated. We find this Truth in John:
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:13-15 (NIV)
Friends are not only loving and self sacrificing they are also intimate in conversation. They do not keep secrets nor harbor things that would enrich or benefit the other. Jesus states we are His friends if we do what He commands which demonstrates our trust in His ways. Our obedience stems from the confident faith of knowing His ways are always for our best. Faith is always the recipient of His promises. Indeed, believers are not unlike Abraham, who was called God’s friend through the obedience he demonstrated. James states:
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. James 2:21-23 (NIV)
“Every true Christian has a Friend in heaven, of almighty power and boundless love. He is thought of, cared for, provided for, and defended by God’s eternal Son. He has an unfailing Protector, who never slumbers or sleeps, and watches continually over his interests. The world may despise him, but he has no cause to be ashamed. Father and mother even may cast him out, but Christ having once taken him up will never let him go. He is the ‘friend of Christ’ even after he is dead! The friendships of this world are often fair-weather friendships, and fail us like summer-dried fountains, when our need is the sorest; but the friendship of the Son of God is stronger than death, and goes beyond the grave. The Friend of sinners is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” J. C. Ryle
I am reminded of Paul’s glorious words in Romans:
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
In tenderness of words, our Lord tells His disciples that Lazarus has died. “Sleep” was a common term used for death and was certainly a more tender and empathetic way of expressing the most painful of events. We find this term used throughout all of Scripture regarding death – from the prophet Daniel as well as the pen of Paul who both wrote the following regarding Jesus’ second coming:
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Dan 12:2 (NIV)
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thess 4:13-18 (NIV)
It is interesting to me that as Jesus states Lazarus’ sad case He also, in the same breath, tells how He is going to mend it. How like our Lord! Nothing is beyond His abilities or powers. Whenever Jesus states how bad a case is, He tells how quickly He can remedy it. Lazarus had fallen asleep and Jesus was going to wake him up therein proclaiming His deliberate intentions of raising him from the dead. Who but God could make such a claim as this?
“Never was bolder declaration made. None surely would make it but One who knew that He was very God.” J. C. Ryle